RealTalk MS

Epizode

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  Episode 468: You've Been Given a 15% Chance of Living and Your Spouse Gets Diagnosed with MS with Kathleen Silva 17.08.2026 38min

  Imagine your spouse or significant other has been diagnosed with MS...shortly after you were diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, and given just a 15% chance of survival. All of a sudden, the roles of patient and care partner are up for grabs -- and they change with almost daily frequency.  That's exactly the scenario my guest, Kathleen Silva, faced. Kathleen is joining me to discuss how she and her husband, Rick, survived and thrived amid that frightening chaos. (Spoiler alert -- no one died!)  We'll also tell you about an investigational drug that's the first to promise neuroprotection during an MS relapse. We're sharing study results that show people with MS who meet the medical criteria aren't jumping on the GLP-1 bandwagon. We'll provide compelling evidence for anyone with MS to quit smoking.  And we're breaking down the results of a study that analyzed mortality rates in cases where MS was listed as the underlying cause of death. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: When the roles of patient and care partner get turned upside down and inside out  :22 The FDA green lights clinical trials for an investigational drug that promises neuroprotection during an MS relapse   1:08 People living with MS who meet the medical criteria aren't jumping on the GLP-1 bandwagon   5:43 Study results provide startling evidence for quitting smoking if you're living with MS   8:34 In spite of highly effective DMTs, mortality rates for deaths in which MS is listed as the underlying cause are increasing  14:05 Kathleen Silva takes us through the harrowing time in her life when her husband, Rick, was diagnosed with MS shortly after she had been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer and given just a 15% chance of surviving   19:23  Share this episode  35:12 Next week  36:31 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/468 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Use of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Among People with Multiple Sclerosis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261442033 STUDY: Impact of Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption on Disease Progression and MRI In People With Multiple Sclerosis: Results of the Prospective Cohort Study NationMS https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17562864261464304 STUDY: Racial and Ethnic Trends and Comorbidity Patterns in Multiple Sclerosis Mortality https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WN9.0000000000000148 REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 468 Guest: Kathleen Silva Privacy Policy
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  Episode 467: Making Shared Decision-Making Work with Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman 10.08.2026 33min

  If you Google the term "shared decision making", you'll find it defined as a collaborative process where patients and clinicians work together to select tests, treatments, and care plans based on clinical evidence and the patient's personal values and goals. But shared decision-making isn't an automatic happy pill. It takes work, it takes discipline, and it takes a clear understanding of both the patient's and the clinician's roles. This week, Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman join me to share how shared decision-making has worked for them over the course of their longtime doctor-patient relationship, and how it can work for you. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're taking a deep dive into shared decision-making  :22 Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman discuss how they have made shared decision-making work, and what to do if it isn't working for you and your neurologist  2:39 Share this episode  32:05 Next week  32:25 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/467 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 467 Guests: Dr. Aliza Ben-Zacharia and Linda Lachman Privacy Policy
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  Episode 466: Everything You Ought to Know About Diet and MS with Dr. Tyler Titcomb 03.08.2026 27min

  We get more listener emails about diet and MS than almost any other topic. If you're curious about how some of the well-known diets for MS actually stack up, or you're interested in understanding the connection between diet and MS-related fatigue, or you want to know what the biggest obstacle to staying on a new diet is (and this may surprise you), then this is the episode for you. We're devoting this week's entire episode to my conversation with Dr. Tyler Titcomb, an assistant professor in the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, and a registered dietitian with a PhD in Nutritional Sciences in the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're taking a deep dive into diet and MS  :22 Dr. Tyler Titcomb breaks down what you need to know about how diet influences multiple sclerosis and why it plays such a key role.  :54 Share this episode  25:22 Next week  25:41 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/466 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 466 Guest: Dr. Tyler Titcomb Privacy Policy
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  Episode 465: On Being an MS Specialist In A Country That Believed MS Was Non-Existent with Dr. Avinash Chandra 27.07.2026 37min

  During his fellowship in the United States, Dr. Avinash Chandra trained to become an MS specialist at a world-class MS center. Then he returned home to Nepal and discovered that MS was largely considered non-existent. But Dr. Chandra knew it wasn't.  In this week's episode, Dr. Chandra discusses his experience creating a framework for MS care in Nepal that hadn't existed before. He also explains the necessary trade-offs in providing costly medical treatment in a country where the average family of four lives on an income of $500 a month.  It's been well-established that males living with MS tend to experience faster and more severe disease progression than females. We're sharing results of a study that shows clear differences in healthcare use by sex up to a decade before the onset of MS.  We'll tell you about a newly published review of 30 years of data measuring the efficacy of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT). And we're sharing the registration details for ECTRIMS Community Patient Day (it's a free live and online event you won't want to miss!) We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: MS care in a country that considered MS non-existent  :22 A study analyzed sex differences in healthcare usage between males and females with MS up to a decade before the first MS symptom develops   1:45 30 years of accumulated data show significant benefits of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in treating relapsing forms of MS   6:17 It's time to support the National MS Society's $119.6 million active investment in MS research   9:32 Dr. Avniash Chandra discusses MS care in Nepal  12:43  Share this episode  35:40 Next week  36:01 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/465 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Sex Differences in Healthcare Use Before the First Multiple Sclerosis-Related Demyelinating Event https://www.msard-journal.com/article/S2211-0348(26)00396-2/fulltext PLAIN ENGLISH SUMMARY: Sex Differences in Healthcare Use Before the First Multiple Sclerosis-Related Demyelinating Event https://tremlettsmsresearchexplained.wordpress.com/2026/07/22/sex-differences-in-healthcare-use-before-the-first-multiple-sclerosis-related-demyelinating-event-explained LISTEN: Dr. Helen Tremlett Discusses the MS Prodrome https://realtalkms.com/321 STUDY: Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Sclerosis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41482159 REGISTER: ECTRIMS Patient Community Day https://ectrimspatientcommunity.eu SUPPORT: National MS Society Research https://nationalmssociety.org/research JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 465 Guest: Dr. Avinash Chandra Privacy Policy
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  Episode 464: Sharing Her MS Journey Graphically with Liat Shalom 20.07.2026 32min

  If you've spent any time at all living with or caring for someone with multiple sclerosis, you know that medical textbooks and information-filled websites can give us facts, figures, and symptoms, but they rarely capture the sometimes messy, sometimes overwhelming, and sometimes darkly funny reality of what it actually feels like to get a diagnosis of MS and realize your life has suddenly shifted under your feet. Our guest, Liat Shalom, was diagnosed with MS in 2021, at the age of 30. Instead of letting that diagnosis define her, Liat picked up her pen and created Unravelled—a groundbreaking graphic memoir that refuses to sugar-coat the MS experience.   For about five years, we've known that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) triggers MS. We'll explain what biologists just discovered about how EBV triggers MS, and what that could mean for future treatments. We're sharing evidence from an important study that shows a simple blood test is as accurate as MRI in determining whether someone is experiencing a relapse or a pseudo-relapse. We're sharing details of a study showing that virtual reality (VR) therapy is effective in treating MS-related brain fog. And if you're a woman between the ages of 45 and 60 and you're experiencing perimenopause, we'll share an easy way for you to participate in MS research without leaving home. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Unravalled, Liat Shalom's darkly humorous graphic novel about her MS journey  :22 Scientists discover how the Epstein-Barr virus triggers MS  1:53 A simple blood test can determine whether someone is experiencing a relapse or a pseudo-relapse  4:08 It's time to support the National MS Society's $119.6 million active investment in MS research   6:58 Virtual reality therapy can improve MS-related brain fog   9:16 An opportunity to participate in MS research for women between 45-60 who are experiencing perimenopause  11:41 Liat Shalom discusses her journey to an MS diagnosis that led her to create Unravalled, a darkly humorous graphic memoir  13:11  Share this episode  30:32 Next week  30:52 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/464 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com Unravelled: The Story of an MS Warrior by Liat Shalom https://unraveledgraphicnovel.com STUDY: CD4+ T-Cells Reactive to Epstein-Barr Virus Late Lytic Antigens are Enriched in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.adz6566 STUDY: Utility of Multi-Analyte Protein Assay to Distinguish Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Relapse from Pseudoexacerbation https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40120-026-00984-2 STUDY: Effectiveness of Immersive and Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Interventions on Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/12/4534 PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH: Perimenopause and Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/ms-study-alert-perimenopause-survey STUDY: Effectiveness of Immersive and Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Interventions on Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/12/4534 SUPPORT: National MS Society Research https://nationalmssociety.org/research JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 464 Guest: Liat Shalom Privacy Policy
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  Episode 463: A Novel Approach to Treating MS-Related Depression with Dr. Robert Motl and Kelly 13.07.2026 37min

  Living with depression has been described as "like living under a wet, heavy blanket". It can stop someone from showing up at work, meeting up with friends, and even connecting with their family.  One out of every two people living with MS will experience depression at some point in their MS journey. The METS for MS study is focused on a novel approach to treating major depressive disorder among people with MS -- one that doesn't require another infusion, injection, or pill. This week, Dr. Robert Motl, principal investigator for the METS for MS study, joins us to explain what the study is about and what his team is learning.  And Kelly, who lives with progressive MS, joins us to share how her participation in the study became life-changing.  We'll also tell you about the $500,000 donation to MS research that Fernando Mendoza and his family just made. We're sharing the details about the CAR-NKT cell therapy for MS that's being developed at UCLA. You'll learn about the novel nanoparticle therapy for MS that's being developed by a team at Syracuse University's BioInspired Institute. And we're sharing the surprising results of a study that measured the effectiveness of Rituximab versus Ocrevus.  We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: A study focusing on a novel approach to treating MS-related depression  :22 Fernando Mendoza and his family donate $500,000 to MS research  1:18 UCLA research team receives a $7.49 million dollar grant to develop CAR-NKT therapy for MS  2:22 Syracuse University research team receives NIH grant to develop novel nanoparticle therapy for MS   6:22 Study results: Rituximab and Ocrevus were compared head-to-head and the results are surprising   9:43 Dr. Robert Motl explains the Mood and Exercise Training Study for Multiple Sclerosis, and Kelly explains how her participation in the study turned out to be life-changing  14:22 Share this episode  35:43 Next week  36:03 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/463 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Rituximab versus Ocrelizumab in Newly Diagnosed Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2600993 PARTICIPATE: Mood and Exercise Training Study for Multiple Sclerosis (METS for MS) Email: METSforMS@uic.edu  Phone Ariel: (312) 355-1790 JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 463 Guest: Dr. Robert Motl, Kelly Privacy Policy
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  Episode 462: Taking Your MS to College? Understand Your Right to Accommodation with Britt Neff 06.07.2026 30min

  The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures that people living with disabilities receive reasonable accommodations at work. That law also applies to students attending most colleges and universities. And the ADA doesn't limit itself to physical disabilities. It's often applied to invisible disabilities, as well. This week, Britt Neff, the Access Specialist at the University of Washington School of Law, joins me to explain all the ways the accommodation process can work for college students living with MS.   We'll also tell you about PTD802, an oral remyelination therapy that's just been given a green light from the FDA to begin human clinical trials We're sharing evidence from an important study that should make you feel more confident about getting those MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and chickenpox vaccines. You'll learn what researchers at the Cleveland Clinic discovered when they asked the question, "Can someone living with MS over the age of 60 discontinue their disease-modifying therapy?" And we're sharing the details about an AI application that can predict -- with 90% accuracy -- whether someone with MS is at risk of experiencing cognitive decline over the next few years.  We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Understanding "reasonable accommodation" at college  :22 FDA approves oral remyelination therapy PTD802 for Phase 1 clinical trial  1:07 Study results: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and chickenpox vaccines are shown to be safe for people with MS  4:52 Study results: Is it safe for someone living with MS over 60 to discontinue their DMT?   7:34 Study results: AI predicts future cognitive changes among people with MS with 90% accuracy   10:45 Britt Neff explains the many types of accommodation available to college students with MS  15:01 Share this episode  28:24 Next week  28:44 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/462 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com Pheno Therapeutics https://phenotherapeutics.com STUDY: Live Attenuated MMR and Varicella Vaccinations and Multiple Sclerosis Activity https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2849165 STUDY: Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Over Age 60: Comparing Clinical and Radiological Outcomes in Disease-Modifying Therapy Continuers and Discontinuers https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20552173261448005 STUDY: Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Predict Neurocognitive Disorder Progression in Multiple Sclerosis Using MRI and Clinical Data https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ene.70568 JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 462 Guest: Britt Neff Privacy Policy
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  Episode 461: A New Disease-Modifying Therapy Has Been Submitted for FDA Approval with Dr. Jiwon Oh 29.06.2026 34min

  A short while ago, we shared very positive results from the Phase 3 clinical trials for fenebrutinib in both relapsing-remitting and primary progressive MS. Those results have been submitted to the FDA for approval. This week, Dr. Jiwon Oh, the principal investigator in one of the Phase 3 trials for fenebrutinib, walks us through these positive results and explains what makes fenebrutinib a different kind of disease-modifying therapy and who might benefit most from it.   We're also talking about the European approval of Cenrifki (Tolebrutinib) to treat nonrelapsing secondary progressive MS, and we'll share our perspective on why the FDA should have -- and should still -- approve this DMT in the U.S. We'll tell you about two studies funded by the National MS Society that will focus on identifying links between menopause and MS. We'll share some sobering news about healthcare affordability in America. And we'll share some good news from the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, along with an opportunity for you to spend just 5 minutes doing some important advocacy work. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Fenebrutinib has been submitted to the FDA for approval  :22 Cenrifki (Tolebrutinib) approved in Europe for Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive MS  1:09 National MS Society funds two studies to identify links between menopause and MS  4:19 Healthcare has become unaffordable for the majority of Americans  8:23 The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has approved $20 million in funding for the MS Research Program   11:57 Dr. Jiwon Oh explains why Fenebrutinib is a different kind of disease-modifying therapy, and who may benefit from it  15:36 Share this episode  32:22 Next week  32:43 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/461 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIAL: Tolebrutinib in Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa2415988 VIDEO: Principal Investigator Dr. Robert Fox Discusses the Phase 3 clinical trial for Tolebrutinib in Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive MS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJQ93qdlXrU GALLUP POLL: U.S. Adults' Ability to Afford Healthcare at a Five-Year Low https://news.gallup.com/poll/710942/adults-ability-afford-healthcare-five-year-low.aspx JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 461 Guest: Dr. Jiwon Oh Privacy Policy
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  Episode 460: Running Ireland with MS with Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman 22.06.2026 33min

  Next week, Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for running the 350-mile length of Ireland with MS. This week, you'll meet Matt and Colin and learn why this undertaking is so important to each of them.  We're also sharing survey results that point to gaps in how we approach MS care from the day of diagnosis. We'll tell you what it really means when you read that the prevalence of MS is increasing. It isn't bad news at all! We'll provide you with all the details you need to register for ECTRIMS Patient Community Day. And, if you can spare 20 minutes, we'll tell you how you can participate in an MS research study from the comfort of your own home. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're hitting the open road in Ireland with Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman  :22 Survey points to gaps in how we approach MS care from day one  2:48 What does the increase in MS prevalence really mean?  8:48 Register for ECTRIMS 2026 Patient Community Day  12:33 An opportunity for you to participate in MS research without leaving home   14:10 Matt Knaggs and Colin Goodman talk about their attempt to set a Guinness World Record for running the length of Ireland with MS  15:56 Share this episode  32:13 Next week  32:33 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/460 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Understanding the Unmet Needs of People with MS at Diagnosis and Throughout Their Care Journey: Insights from a Survey-Based Study https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40120-026-00942-y STUDY: Drivers of Prevalence in Major Motor Neurodegenerative Diseases: Temporal Trends in Sweden and France (2003-2022) https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000218072 REGISTER: ECTRIMS 2026 Patient Community Day https://www.ectrimspatientcommunity.eu PARTICPATE IN RESEARCH: Survey: Automatic and Reflective Determinants, Fatigue, and Physical Activity for People with Multiple Sclerosis https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_douenJftXAcGxVk JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 460 Guest: Matt Knaggs, Colin Goodman Privacy Policy
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  Episode 459: This Is Not Your Father's MS Rehabilitation with Dr. Brian Sandroff, Dr. Brad Willingham, and Dr. Laura Rice 15.06.2026 47min

  For years, the standard medical advice for someone diagnosed with multiple sclerosis was simple, cautious, and as we now know, incredibly limiting: "Take it easy. Don't overexert yourself. And get plenty of rest."  Today, like almost every other aspect of MS care, neurological rehabilitation is being entirely rewritten. It's no longer about just managing decline; it's about leveraging emerging technologies to proactively build resilience, retrain the brain, and adopt cutting-edge exercise science to fundamentally change the trajectory of life with MS. This week, three experts share their thoughts on what MS rehabilitation looks like in 2026...and it's not your father's MS rehab! Dr. Brian Sandroff breaks down his groundbreaking research on how tailored exercise regimens—like treadmill walking—can actually improve memory, boost processing speed, and spark cognitive recovery. Dr. Brad Willingham discusses the game-changing world of continuous remote monitoring, explaining how wearable sensors and AI are turning real-world, 24/7 data into hyper-personalized, dynamic treatment plans. And Dr. Laura Rice delivers a practical exercise blueprint for individuals with MS who use wheelchairs. You'll learn how to jumpstart a safe fitness routine while effectively managing risks like heat sensitivity, shoulder overuse, skin breakdown, and the fear of falling. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're taking a deep dive into MS rehabilitation :22 Dr. Brian Sandroff answers the question, "Can exercise be used to treat cognitive impairment?"    2:10 Dr. Brad Willingham explains how AI can play a meaningful role in MS rehabilitation and clinical care  13:41 Dr. Laura Rice shares tips and strategies for exercising safely if you rely on a wheelchair for mobility   26:18 Share this episode  46:27 Next week  46:47 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/459 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 459 Guest: Dr. Brian Sandroff, Dr. Brad Willingham, and Dr. Laura Rice Privacy Policy
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  Episode 458 -- From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting: Part Two with Dr. Stephen Krieger 08.06.2026 31min

  This week, our coverage of the Consortium of MS Centers annual meeting continues with my guest, Dr. Stephen Krieger. In a wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Krieger offers a very encouraging clinical trial update, shares his thoughts on what treating someone living with advanced MS ought to look like, and points out potential obstacles to implementing the updated criteria for diagnosing MS.  Dr. Krieger is a Professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and a Multiple Sclerosis Specialist at the Corinne Coldsmith Dickinson Center for MS. We're also sharing results of a study that revealed some surprising connections between caffeine, alcohol, opioids, and MS symptoms. And if you're living with MS and you're the parent of a young child, we'll tell you about a book that belongs on your bookshelf. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're at the CMSC annual meeting with Dr. Stephen Krieger  :22 Study reveals the connection between caffeine, alcohol, and opioids and your MS symptoms    1:12 My Superhero with Wheels is the book you need if you're living with MS and have young children  5:15 Dr. Stephen Krieger discusses exciting clinical trial results, treating people with advanced MS, and potential challenges in implementing the updated criteria for diagnosing MS   8:39 Share this episode  30:22 Next week  30:41 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/458 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Daily Temporal Associations Between Psychoactive Substances and Fatigue, Pain, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms in People with Multiple Sclerosis https://archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(26)00035-3/fulltext BOOK: My Superhero with Wheels https://amazon.com/My-Superhero-wheels-True-Story/dp/B0GWVGSWX5/ref=sr_1_1 JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 458 Guest: Dr. Stephen Krieger Privacy Policy
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  Episode 457: From the 2026 CMSC Annual Meeting with Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, and Dr. Riley Bove 01.06.2026 29min

  Last week, the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, best known as CMSC, hosted its annual meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, where we had a chance to talk with some of the world's top MS experts. We'll be sharing those conversations over the next few episodes of the podcast. Welcome to Part One of our coverage of CMSC 2026! In what has become an annual tradition at this conference, Dr. Kathy Zackowski, the National MS Society's Associate Vice-President of Research, joins me to share her impressions of the sessions and presentations that stood out to her. I also caught up with Dr. Valerie Block and Dr. Riley Bove on the first day of the CMSC annual meeting, and we discussed how wearable devices and digital tools are finding their way into MS care and how they can improve the quality of care for people living with MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're reporting from CMSC  :22 Dr. Kathy Zackowski shares the CMSC presentations that caught her eye  1:04 Dr. Valerie Block and Dr. Riley Bove discuss how wearable devices and digital tools are reshaping MS care  14:29 Share this episode  28:20 Next week  28:39 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/457 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 457 Guests: Dr. Kathy Zackowski, Dr. Valerie Block, Dr. Riley Bove Privacy Policy
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  Episode 456:The First 100 Days Following Your MS Diagnosis with Dr. Nancy Sicotte 25.05.2026 30min

  May 30th is World MS Day! This year, the theme for World MS Day is "My MS Diagnosis," and I've been thinking about what happens right after that diagnosis. After an individual hears, "You have MS." This week, Dr. Nancy Sicotte joins me to discuss the things you should know, the things you should be thinking about, and the things you should be doing in the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis.  Dr. Sicotte is the Chair of Neurology and Director of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, and she's the past Chair of the National MS Society's National Medical Advisory Committee.  We're also sharing results of a study that showed an exercise hormone protected neurons from inflammatory attack in a mouse model of MS. And we're sharing encouraging news about an experimental nasal spray that's been shown to delay disability progression and improve fatigue among people with non-active secondary progressive MS. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: World MS Day!  :22 Study reveals an exercise hormone has neuroprotective effects on a mouse model of MS    2:40 Tiziana shares evidence that Foralumab delays progression and improves fatigue in people with non-active secondary progressive MS  4:34 Dr. Nancy Sicotte looks at the first 100 days following an MS diagnosis  8:40 Share this episode  28:51 Next week  29:12 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/456 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com World MS Day Poster Maker https://worldmsday.org/poster-maker STUDY: The Exercise Hormone Irisin Has Neuroprotective Effects in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-026-01527-7 CLINICAL TRIAL: A Study of Nasal Foralumab in Non-Active Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06292923 JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 456 Guest: Dr. Nancy Sicotte Privacy Policy
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  Episode 455: MS and Your Oral Health with Dr. Ann Spolarich 18.05.2026 31min

  When we talk about managing Multiple Sclerosis, our conversations naturally focus on things like disease-modifying therapies, mobility, MRI scans, and symptom management. But in this week's episode, we're shining a light on a critical aspect of MS wellness that doesn't get nearly enough attention: your oral health. Living with MS can introduce a whole host of unexpected challenges to maintaining a healthy mouth. And beyond preventing tooth decay and gum disease, emerging research suggests that chronic oral inflammation, like periodontal disease, can trigger systemic inflammation throughout the body. Dr. Ann Spolarich joins us to break down the science, explain the risks, and offer practical suggestions for maintaining oral health for people living with MS and their care partners. We're also sharing study results that revealed 1,000 differences between immune cells in men and women. (And we're explaining why that's important) If you're a parent or caregiver for a child or teen with MS, we'll tell you everything you need to know about the FDA approval of Ocrevus for treating pediatric MS. We're sharing the details of an AI partnership designed to shorten the time to an MS diagnosis and track progression in real time. We're sharing the details of another AI partnership designed to test a pill that will ease MS-related depression and fatigue. And we'll tell you about a way that you can participate in MS research from the comfort and convenience of your own home. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: The connection between your oral health and MS  :22 Study reveals 1,000 differences between men's and women's immune cells    1:30 FDA approves Ocrevus for children over the age of 10 with relapsing remitting MS  3:28 An AI partnership designed to shorten the time to an MS diagnosis and track progression in real time  5:43 An AI partnership to test a pill that will ease MS-related depression and fatigue  9:24 An opportunity to participate in MS research from the comfort and convenience of your own home  13:16 Dr. Ann Spolarich discusses the connection between your oral health and MS  13:16 Share this episode  29:45 Next week  30:05 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/455 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: The Impact of Sex on the Immune System Explored at the Single-Cell Level https://www.cell.com/ajhg/fulltext/S0002-9297(26)00153-9 ONLINE SURVEY: Bladder-Related Fall Risk in People with MS https://www.nationalmssociety.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/participate-in-research-studies/rs-bladder-fall-risk JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 455 Guest: Dr. Ann Spolarich Privacy Policy
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  Episode 454: Managing MS-Related Depression with Dr. Anthony Feinstein 11.05.2026 30min

  One out of every two people with MS will experience clinical depression at some point in their MS journey, making depression one of the most significant yet under-discussed aspects of living with MS. While the physical symptoms of MS often take center stage, the neuropsychiatric challenges can be just as impactful on an individual's overall quality of life and long-term outcomes. Joining us to shed some light on this important topic is Dr. Anthony Feinstein, a world-renowned neuropsychiatrist and professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Feinstein has spent decades researching the biological and psychological drivers of depression in MS. We're also sharing study results revealing that wait times to see a neurologist in the U.S. are way too long. We'll tell you about a pilot trial that's recruiting participants for an implantable device designed to promote remyelination. We're just two days away from the National MS Society's webcast on protecting federal funding for MS research, the NIH, CDC, and FDA. We're sharing all the details and info to register. And we'll tell you all about the MS Society's statement for the record at a congressional hearing, exposing how Pharmacy Benefit Managers often prioritize profits over patient welfare. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Managing MS-Related Depression  :22 Study results reveal wait times for an appointment with a neurologist in the U.S.    1:45 A pilot clinical trial for an implantable device designed to promote remyelination  4:38 A webcast to update you on the National MS Society's advocacy efforts to protect federal funding for MS research, the NIH, CDC, and FDA  7:05 The National MS Society has submitted a critical statement for the record at a congressional hearing, exposing how Pharmacy Benefit Managers often prioritize profits over patient welfare  8:39 Dr. Anthony Feinstein discusses the latest research and strategies for managing MS-related depression  11:00 Share this episode  29:37 Next week  28:56 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/454 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Access to High-Efficacy Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis Under Medicaid: Variation in Coverage and Utilization Across States https://aan.com/msa/Public/Events/AbstractDetails/61520 STUDY RESULTS: Neurology Wait Times After Primary Care or Emergency Department Visits Among the Commercially Insured Population in the United States: 2019-2023 https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000218008 CLINICAL TRIAL: The SetPoint System as a Pro-Remyelination Therapy for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06796504 WEBCAST: Make It Count Now: Mobilizing for Federal Funding in a Changing Policy Landscape https://nmss.quorum.us/event/33151 READ: The National MS Society Statement for The Record: "Profits Over Patients: The PBM Business Model Under Scrutiny" https://cdn.sanity.io/files/y936aps5/production/0372d3964cc269a404c17dff8ca919b34d0c6603.pdf AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 454 Guest: Dr. Anthony Feinstein Privacy Policy
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  Episode 453: MS and Pregnancy with Dr. Riley Bove 04.05.2026 37min

  For decades, an MS diagnosis came with outdated advice and significant uncertainty regarding starting a family. Today, the conversation has shifted from "Is it possible?" to "How do we optimize the journey?" This week, we're taking a deep dive into the essential considerations for family planning, managing MS during pregnancy, and the crucial postpartum period.  We're joined by Dr. Riley Bove, an Associate Professor of Neurology at UCSF and a leading expert in hormonal influences on MS. Dr. Bove brings her extensive research background and clinical expertise to help us understand how to navigate disease-modifying therapies while planning a family, the biological shifts that occur during pregnancy, and how to build a robust support system for the "fourth trimester." We're also sharing study results that provide some optimistic news for people experiencing MS-related depression. We'll tell you about a study that explains the actual changes in the immune system that occur when someone with MS exercises. If you get your health insurance on the Affordable Care Act online marketplace, we'll explain why health economists feel certain that your premiums will be going up again next year. And we're also sharing some sobering research that highlights systemic inequities that prevent people with MS who rely on Medicaid from accessing high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: MS and family planning, pregnancy, and postpartum  :22 STUDY: High-efficacy disease-modifying therapies are not available to all Medicaid recipients   1:08 Millions have failed to renew their ACA individual health insurance plans  5:05 STUDY: Cognitive-behavioral therapy improves MS-related depression  9:32 STUDY: Researchers identify the biological mechanisms that are impacted when people with MS exercise  11:29 Dr. Riley Bove discusses family planning, pregnancy, and postpartum issues that affect women with MS  14:48 Share this episode  35:31 Next week  35:50 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/453 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Access to High-Efficacy Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis Under Medicaid: Variation in Coverage and Utilization Across States https://aan.com/msa/Public/Events/AbstractDetails/61520 STUDY: Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2026/04170/effectivess_of_cognitive_behavioral_therapy_for.27.aspx STUDY: Physical Exercise Modulates T Cell Activity and Mitigates Synaptic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Through Vagus Nerve Engagement https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159126002710 UCSF Clinical Trials: Pregnancy Registry, Infants, Serum/Milk Analysis (PRISMA) https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/trial/NCT06940323 AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 453 Guest: Dr. Riley Bove Privacy Policy
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  Episode 452: Why Natural Myelin Repair Stops Working for People with MS (And How It Could Be Re-Started!) with Dr. Larry Sherman 29.04.2026 29min

  Myelin repair is a natural function. But, for people living with MS, that ability to repair myelin eventually stops working. New research led by my guest, Dr. Larry Sherman, may explain why that happens and point to new possibilities for future myelin repair treatments. Dr. Sherman is a professor at the Oregon National Primate Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University, and his research focuses on how the brain and spinal cord respond to injury and disease, particularly in demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis. We're also sharing some potentially good news for people living with non-relapsing secondary progressive MS in Europe, but not in the United States. We'll give you the details about an experimental drug that's just been submitted to the FDA and EMA for approval for treating relapsing forms of MS and primary progressive MS. We'll share the results of a study that focused on the impact of a cancer diagnosis on MS care. We'll tell you how Fernando Mendoza celebrated being named the #1 pick in this year's NFL draft. And we're sharing news about a new AI tool for your doctor. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Why myelin repair stops working for people living with MS  :22 EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommends approval of Tolebrutinib   1:35 Roche submits Fenebrutinib for FDA and EMA approval  4:45 Study results show the effect of a cancer diagnosis on MS care  6:13 The first pick in the 2026 NFL draft, Fernando Mendoza, partners with the National MS Society to launch the Mendoza Family Fund  9:43 OpenAI launches ChatGPT for Clinicians  10:56 Dr. Larry Sherman discusses why myelin repair stops working for people with MS, and how his team may have found a way to restart it  14:37 Share this episode  27:59 Next week  28:19 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/452 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com LISTEN: RealTalk MS Episode 440: An MS Specialist Responds to the FDA with Dr. William Conte https://realtalkms.com/440 STUDY: Impact of Cancer on Multiple Sclerosis-Related Healthcare and Disease-Modifying Drug Use: A Multinational Cohort Study https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13524585261437966 STUDY (Plain English Version): Impact of Cancer on Multiple Sclerosis-Related Healthcare and Disease-Modifying Drug Use: A Multinational Cohort Study https://tremlettsmsresearchexplained.wordpress.com/2026/04/23/impact-of-cancer-on-multiple-sclerosis-related-healthcare-and-disease-modifying-drug-use-a-multinational-cohort-study-explained DONATE: The Mendoza Family Fund (in Partnership with the National MS Society) https://nationalmssociety.org/how-you-can-help/ways-to-give/mendoza LEARN MORE: ChatGPT For Clinicians https://chatgpt.com/plans/clinicians AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 452 Guest: Dr. Larry Sherman Privacy Policy
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  Episode 451: Meet the 2026 Winner of the John Dystel Prize for MS Research with Dr. Ludwig Kappos 20.04.2026 32min

  The annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology is underway in Chicago this week, and one of the highlights is the presentation of the John Dystel Prize for Research in Multiple Sclerosis, awarded jointly by the National MS Society and the American Academy of Neurology. This year's winner of the Dystel Prize is Dr. Ludwig Kappos, a physician-scientist at the University Hospital Basel in Basel, Switzerland, and the director of the Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel. Dr. Kappos has played a major role in how clinical trials in MS are conducted. He helped establish the Expanded Disability Status Scale, or EDSS, which is the gold standard for measuring disability in people with MS, and Dr. Kappos and his team have advanced our current understanding of a key driver of disability in MS, known as progression independent of relapse activity, or PIRA.  Dr. Kappos will be delivering the Dystel Prize lecture at the American Academy of Neurology meeting this week, and he's joining us to share a preview of that lecture in a conversation you won't want to miss. We're also sharing news about a blood test used to monitor MS disease activity that has just been approved by the European Union. We'll give you the details of a study focused on whether disease-modifying therapies can impact neurodevelopmental birth defects in children born to mothers with MS. We'll explain why yaks and Tibetan antelope may have opened a door to neuroprotection and myelin repair for people living with MS. And we'll tell you where healthcare providers and patients may differ when it comes to defining high-quality MS care. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: The John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research is awarded  :22 A blood test to monitor MS disease activity is approved by the EU  2:28 Researchers determine whether disease-modifying therapies have an impact on neurodevelopmental birth defects among children born to mothers with MS  4:21 Researchers studying yaks and Tibetan antelope may have uncovered a pathway to neuroprotection and even myelin repair  7:24 Healthcare providers and people living with MS share their perspectives on what needs improvement in delivering high-quality MS care  10:01 Dr. Ludwig Kappos reflects on how MS clinical trials need to change  13:33 Share this episode  30:58 Next week  31:19 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/451 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Association of Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Congenital Anomalies with Prenatal Multiple Sclerosis Treatment: Real World Historial Cohort Studyhttps://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpt.70235 STUDY: A Gain-of-Function Retstat Variant from High-Altitude Adaptation Promotes Myelination Via a Neuronal Dihydroretinoic Acid-RXR-Y Pathway https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(26)00013-9 ARTICLE: Areas for Improvement for High-Quality Multiple Sclerosis Care: Insights from Interviews with People with Multiple Sclerosis, Providers, and Clinical Educators https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1936657426000300 AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 451 Guest: Dr. Ludwig Kappos Privacy Policy
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  Episode 450: Exercise is Medicine for People with MS with Dr. Robert Motl 13.04.2026 33min

  An exercise program can be hard to start and even more difficult to stick with. But the evidence-based benefits speak for themselves. For people living with MS, it can mean improving quality of life without having to rely on a pill, injection, or infusion. And exercise is 100% affordable! Dr. Robert Motl, the Director of the Exercise Neuroscience Research Laboratory at the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago, joins me to discuss how exercise can improve MS-related brain fog, reduce fatigue, and perhaps even support myelin repair. We'll also share the results of a study that shows having mononucleosis is a significant risk factor for developing MS. And we'll tell you about a powerful imaging agent that can identify which immune cells are causing the inflammatory activity that drives MS, determine disease severity, and track the immune system's response to disease-modifying therapy. It's a potential game-changer in MS care. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: Evidence-based benefits of exercise for people living with MS  :22 Study results show that having mono increases the chance that someone will develop MS  1:28 Researchers have created an imaging agent with the potential to be a game-changer in diagnosing and treating MS  4:29 Dr. Robert Motl explains how and why exercise can be medicine for people with MS  10:04 Share this episode  31:50 Next week  32:10 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/450 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com STUDY: Risk of Multiple Sclerosis Among Persons with Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Mononucleosishttps://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WN9.0000000000000082 STUDY: A Radiolabeled Dendrimer Non-Invasively Identifies and Tracks Innate Immune Cell Activation in a Mouse Model of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-67907-x AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 450 Guest: Dr. Robert Motl Privacy Policy
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  Episode 449: Putting People Affected by MS at the Center of MS Research with Sara Loud, Stephanie Buxhoeveden, and Hollie Schmidt 06.04.2026 37min

  When you join the iConquer MS community, you're no longer just a patient; you become a research partner. Not just a data point in someone's study. You become the person to suggest the study, to help define the study, and to participate in sharing the outcome of the study. In this week's episode, I talk with the iConquer MS leadership team about what it means to be part of this people-powered research revolution and how iConquer MS keeps people affected by MS at the center of MS research. The National Institutes of Health has just published a Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research. We're sharing all the details. And a research team analyzed data from 20 global studies to determine whether anti-CD20 disease-modifying therapies (Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Briumvi) were cost-effective. We're sharing their somewhat surprising results. And a research team analyzed data from 20 global studies to determine whether anti-CD20 disease-modifying therapies (Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Briumvi) were cost-effective. We're sharing their somewhat surprising results. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! This Week: We're talking about people-powered MS research  :22 The NIH has published a Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research  1:15 Researchers determine whether anti-CD20 disease-modifying therapies (Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Briumvi) are cost-effective  6:05 Sara Loud, Stephanie Buxhoeveden, and Hollie Schmidt discuss what it means to put people affected by MS at the center of MS research  12:41 Share this episode  36:26 Next week  36:45 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/449 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.com Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes at www.RealTalkMS.com iConquer MS https://iconquerms.org National Institutes of Health Strategic Plan for Disability Health Research https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/disabilityhealthresearch STUDY: Economic Value of Anti-CD20 Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review of Cost-Effectiveness Studieshttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17562864261426816 AbleNOW https://ablenow.com JOIN: The RealTalk MS Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms REVIEW: Give RealTalk MS a rating and review http://www.realtalkms.com/review Follow RealTalk MS on X, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 449 Guests: Sara Loud, Stephanie Buxoeveden, and Hollie Schmidt Privacy Policy